Our speed bump is now officially a road block.  For those of you that pay Sonoma County taxes, know that PRMD (Permit & Resource Management Dept) is putting your hard earned money to good use.  We've been informed that because we did not save 39% of the original structure (which was either rotten or mold ridden) we are classified as a new build and, therefore, need to upgrade our septic system.  The very same system that we installed new just 2 years ago.

Now I admit, we were trying to stretch our definition of the word "remodel".  (That was apparent whenever I spoke about it because I always used air quotes when saying the word).  That's our bad and we'll own it.  We're moving forward in researching what we need to do to upgrade our 2 yr old septic system and look forward to all the new things we'll learn ;)

In the meantime, I would like someone to explain to me a few things:
       - why would our 2 yr old septic system fulfill the requirements needed to pass inspection if we had kept 39% of a moldy, rotted house but when we try to replace the moldy, rotted part with new material all of a sudden it's not good enough?

     - why was it OK for the 15+ squatters to live here with NO running water and NO working septic system (and if it wasn't OK for them to be here, why they were allowed to stay despite the several times the police were on the property responding to disturbance calls)?

     -  even though we're paying our property taxes (and have for the past 6 1/2 years) the county is making it SO difficult for us to build a very modest house (~ 1500 sq ft) when the squatters were allowed to stay while NO ONE was paying the property taxes?

Our neighbors have told us that they're glad we bought the place and are grateful that we've worked so hard to clean the place up.  It was literally a dump before we moved here.  We paid to have 5 abandoned cars removed.  We ourselves hauled away at least 20 old appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, dish washers ...).  We cut up and hauled away 2 trailers and one of those campers that fits over a pick-up truck.  We've picked up (and continue to find) endless amounts of trash as we plant trees and a garden, and install fencing to create a pasture for our horses.  Everyday we pick up glass that we find from the broken out windows of those abandoned cars, broken bottles and who knows what else.  We are responsible, contributing members of the community.  We don't have a lot of money and what we do have we're trying to put towards building a simple home - is that too much to ask for?

We're going back to the county to present our case next week when the supervisor for the Well & Septic division of PRMD returns from vacation.  Until then, the materials to frame and enclose the place will just sit here.

Stay tuned ...